Get the People Fed: Island Residents Hit by Co-op Cyber Attack

Islay, a picturesque island famous for its wildlife and whisky distilleries, is not typically known as a hub for high-stakes cybercrime. However, the recent attack on the Co-op supermarket chain has left the community reeling with frustration.

The targeting of retailers like Marks and Spencer and Co-op has led to sporadic empty shelves across UK stores, as companies have slowed deliveries and shut down parts of their IT systems in response to the cyber attacks. But for Scotland's island communities, the lack of fresh food is a serious issue.

"The Co-op is so important here," said Brian Palmer, editor of local newspaper The Ileach. "We don't think because we live here that we should have every convenience you get on the mainland, but I think a lack of food is probably stretching it a wee bit." No one is starving as a result of shortages, but there is clear frustration with the lack of fresh produce available.

Staff at the Bowmore Co-op reported that their last full delivery was at the start of May. Since then, smaller deliveries have been made, but not of what is required. The first aisle of the shop, usually stocked with chilled meat, fruit, and vegetables, was almost completely bare on Friday afternoon.

"It's easy to shop when there's nothing to pick from," one customer joked as they left the store. A Co-op worker expressed frustration that customers don't understand the impact of a cyber attack: "We've dealt with red weather warnings and Covid, but no one understands a cyber attack."

A Response from the Co-op

The company told the BBC last week that the attack on its systems meant store deliveries had been hit and that significant amounts of customer data had been stolen. In response to the issue, the Co-op has implemented a temporary contingency stock ordering and delivery process, prioritizing the quantity of stock and deliveries to "remote lifeline stores".

"We take our responsibility to our Scottish island stores and communities very seriously," said a spokesperson. From Monday, 12 of the most remote lifeline stores will receive triple the volume of available product, while another 20 lifeline stores will get double the volume.

The Human Cost of the Cyber Attack

Construction business manager Donald Gillies expressed his frustration at the lack of food delivery: "That's tosh (rubbish). It's poor, it's really poor. Something has gone wrong in the IT system, and like everything else in society, it's all computer-driven and no one can make a bloomin' decision to send food over."

Recovery Time?

Jude McCorry, chief executive of the Cyber and Fraud Centre based in Edinburgh, warned that companies take time to fully recover from cyber attacks. "Even companies we don't think of as tech firms rely heavily on complex systems that take time to recover," she said. "We know from past experience that some cyber attacks are debilitating for months."

Island Residents React

Sheena MacKellar from the Islay Gaelic Centre took aim at the group behind the hack: "These people are selfish. They are affecting the wrong people." She added, "We're hard working honest people, and we're the ones who are suffering and having to work round it."

A Message of Support

Despite the frustration, island residents have come together to support their local Co-op workers. Praise has been poured on the community for their resilience in the face of adversity.